Shenzhen

Understand

In the history, Shenzhen was a city with obscurity of China. During the Tang dynasty the royal government established a military base in Shekou to protect the commercial ships. Before 1980, Shenzhen was called Bao'an Prefecture (宝安县), the Chinese writing is same to Bao'an District, where the airport is today. In 1980, Shenzhen was a market town on the Hong Kong border with 30,000 people. (Contrary to the quite widespread myth, Shenzhen was not a fishing community.) Then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping designated the city the first of China's Special Economic Zones (SEZs). This was part of the "Reform and Opening Up" policy to revitalize China's economy after its stagnation in the previous decades. The plan was to create a sealed off enclave to experiment with market reforms and performance incentives without posing a threat or risk to the established political and economic system elsewhere in China. Shenzhen won the honor because of its proximity to the abundant capital resources and management expertise across the border in Hong Kong. Since then, it has been a real boom town and today is a bustling city of around 20 million. It's full of skyscrapers and factories, but also surprisingly green with lots of trees, parks, and mountains. Residents will tell you Shenzhen is a young city, and it's true in two senses: the city itself is new, and it's also full of young people, drawn to Shenzhen from other parts of China by the city's job opportunities. Shenzhen is now the main hub of China's booming tech industry, and saw its GDP surpass that of neighboring Hong Kong in 2018. Shenzhen has one of the highest population densities in the world, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in China. Somewhat ignored by international travellers, Shenzhen is a popular destination for Chinese domestic tourists who have been attracted by its famous theme parks, but as the city has developed and become richer they are increasingly drawn by Shenzhen's famous architecture, shopping, bars, restaurants and active art scene. Shenzhen's beaches have become famous throughout China, and the city's scenic mountains are popular for hiking. Visitors are also starting to recognize some fascinating historical sites, particularly those related to Hakka culture and Hong Kong's annexation after the Opium Wars, which are scattered throughout the suburban area.

Climate

The best time to visit Shenzhen is October to December when the weather is pleasantly cool. Shenzhen has a sub-tropical climate with incredibly high humidity combined with soaring temperatures in the summer. For many, this is

Getting there

Visa See the China page for more general information for entering mainland China. If you are travelling from Hong Kong or Macau and want to take a short trip to Shenzhen, you may not need a full mainland China visa. You can apply instead for a five-day Special Economic Zone Tourism Visa On Arrival (SEZ VOA) at the border. This visa gives you enough time to see Shenzhen's most interesting sights, fit in some off-the-beaten-path exploration or a couple of business meetings, and get a taste of what mainland China is like without the hassle of a full visa. The five-day visa is single-entry and restricts you to Shenzhen (including the suburbs covered in this article), so do not attempt onward travel to other cities in mainland China. While this visa is theoretically available to citizens of all countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China, in practice, citizens of rich developed countries are much more likely to be approved, while citizens of poor developing countries are likely to be denied. The rules change frequently, so check up-to-date information before you go. Visas may be denied for anything that the border agents see as a red flag, like being a journalist or certain Middle Eastern travel history, notably Turkey included, or even if you are citizen of a not widely known country. If you've been granted Chinese visas in the past, this increases your chances, so bring old passports with you. In short, it is quite arbitrary whether the application is successful or not, but having the right passport and/or stamps inside it definitely helps. This visa is available at some land entry points from Hong Kong such as Lo Wu/Luohu and Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (which is not Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian where the MTR East Rail Line terminates, you get there with shuttle bus (HK$10) from Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) terminus, the same shuttle will then take you across no man's land to Shenzhen after HK border check, so keep the ticket), Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (only for passengers arriving from Macau by helicopter) and the Shekou ferry terminal. In Lo Wu/Luohu the border guards process around 150 applications max per day, 9:00-16:00 in two turns with a break around midday. On Fridays and Saturdays if you arrive too late you risk having to wait for the next turn or even being denied to apply. The whole crossing might last from something less than half an hour, to even three hours, depending on the queue and efficiency at the visa office. The fee varies by nationality from ¥200-1,000. The charge for UK passport holders is around ¥800 for a five-day

Getting around

Shenzhen is big and spread out, so places can be further apart than they look on a map. When estimating travel time within the city, don't just eyeball it—check a map app to see how long it'll take to get somewhere.

By metro

Shenzhen Metro (深圳地铁) is the most convenient and easy-to-understand method of transport in Shenzhen. Fares are ¥2-15, depending on how far you're traveling. Trains come every 3 minutes or so and the metro runs until 23:00. Stations are announced in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. There is a relatively high standard of public courtesy on the Shenzhen Metro. Some customs are unusual to foreigners; for example, people will often give their seats up to young children. Eating or drinking on the metro is prohibited. The Shenzhen Metro has 16 lines (including the Line 6 Branch line), 369 stations, and 547.42 km of trackage in operation, and is being rapidly expanded. Shenzhen Metro lines are numbered. In the past lines were referred to by name, and the old names are shown here for reference.

1 (Luobao Line) - East-west from Luohu (HK Border / Shenzhen Railway Station) to Shenzhen Airport East (you cannot get into the airport in this station: announcements will remind travellers that they must change Line 11 ). Most convenient line for many tourist sites. Luohu Station is connected to Shenzhen railway station and Lo Wu Station of Hong Kong MTR through Luohu Checkpoint in Shenzhen and Lo Wu Control Point in Hong Kong 2/8 (Shekou Line) - East-west from Chiwan to Liantang, best for ferry connections and Shekou Sea World. Calling at Futian railway station. Through operation with Line 8, meaning that passengers do not need to transfer at Liantang 3 (Longgang Line) - From the Futian Bonded Area running northeast to Shuanglong, calling at Shenzhen East and Futian railway stations 4 (Longhua Line) - North-south from Futian Checkpoint (HK Border) to Niuhu, calling at the major transport hub Shenzhen North railway station. Futian Checkpoint Station is connected to Lok Ma Chau Station of Hong Kong MTR through Futian Checkpoint in Shenzhen and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point in Hong Kong 5 (Huanzhong Line) - East-west through Shenzhen's northern suburbs from Chiwan to Huangbeiling, calling at the major transport hubs Shenzhen North and East railway stations. 6 - North-south and east-west between Futian and the northwestern suburbs, calling at the major transport hub Shenzhen North railway station. There is a short branch of Line 6 (operated individually as "Line 6 Branch"), north-south running from Guangming at northwestern Shenz

See

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles

People, even long time Shenzhen residents, will confidently tell you that "Shenzhen has no history". However, there is a surprising number of historic sites, some of great national significance, dating back to the twelfth century. Shenzhen, it seems, was critically involved in a number of historical events, especially the collapse and final stand of the Southern Song Dynasty (13th century), the last stand of the Ming Dynasty (17th century) and the Opium Wars (19th century). Historic sites are concentrated in Nanshan and the eastern parts of the city. Eastern Shenzhen also has several well-preserved traditional Hakka villages. History museums downtown and in Bao'an tell the story of modern Shenzhen's rapid development from farmland and fishing villages to a global hub for technology and commerce.As a center of design and manufacturing, Shenzhen has a variety of museums of design and industry. Some are downtown, but most seem to be scattered through the city's industrial suburbs. There's also a surprisingly rich array of art galleries, mostly downtown and in Nanshan but also some in the suburbs. Many museums are closed on Mondays.

Do

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles

Amusement parks Shenzhen has many theme parks, which are popular with Chinese tourists, many of whom go to Shenzhen mainly for these. Reactions of Western visitors vary widely, from enjoying them immensely to finding them amazingly tacky. Most of these are operated by Overseas Chinese Town (OCT, 华侨城, Huáqiáochéng), and you can get discounts to the parks using the Smart OCT (花橙旅游) website or app (only in Chinese). Most of them are in Nanshan, with one in Yantian.

Parks, mountains, and outdoor activities

Huge and spread-out city that it is, Shenzhen contains large areas of parks. Some are carefully arranged and tended; others are nature reserves with big, forested mountains. Some have Buddhist temples, pagodas, or wildlife. When the weather is nice, they're lovely for hiking, relaxing, or people-watching. Hiking trails are generally paved with hundreds and hundreds of steps. Given the huge population of Shenzhen, don't expect a walk of quiet solitude, and on weekends and holidays be ready for crowded trails. You can avoid the crowds to some extent by arriving early in the morning and choosing more out-of-the-way parks. Hikes range from "so crowded you might as well be in a queue" (lower parts of Wutong Mountain on a holiday) to "nobody in sight" (back trails of Tanglang Mountain on a workday). Unless it's winter, you'll want to set off early to avoid Shenzhen's oppressive heat and humidity. In the summer, start before dawn when it's still relatively cool. Some parks are great places for birdwatching in the winter when migrating birds fly south to Shenzhen. In particular, try Shenzhen Bay Park in Nanshan and the nearby mangrove forest in Futian. Shenzhen is one of China's and indeed one of the world's great golfing Meccas. It boasts some of the earliest golf courses in China and, in Mission Hills (Longhua), the world's largest golf course which is the scene of leading international tournaments. The best beaches are in eastern Shenzhen. The popular Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches are crowded and dirty, so go past them to the more peaceful beaches further east.

Spas and massage Shenzhen is a popular place for Hong Kong people to go to get a massage. Prices are low compared with Hong Kong, though generally higher than elsewhere in China. (洗脚 xǐ jiǎo) (which often consists of massaging your shoulders, back, arms, legs, and feet) costs ¥25-50 for 60-80 minutes depending on the location, time of day, and quality of the establishment. A full-body massage (按摩 àn mó or 松骨 sōng gǔ) costs ¥50-

Buy

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles

Shenzhen is internationally best known as the epicentre of electronics. The city and surrounding urbanization are home to countless circuit board manufacturers, assembly houses, retailers, and supporting businesses. Many of them will happily give you a tour on request! You can't say you have visited Shenzhen without having strolled through its electronics markets, and filled your backpack with LED strips! Most of the shopping is downtown: cheap markets for day-trippers from across the border, luxurious malls for the city's nouveau-riche, and the famous electronics markets. As befitting China's main tech hub, mobile payment apps WeChat Pay and Alipay are the most popular forms of payment. It is increasingly inconvenient to pay in cash, and some shops may not have change should you decide to do so. Credit cards are not popular among the Chinese and are quickly fading into obscurity, though as of 2024, both WeChat Pay and Alipay can be linked to foreign credit and debit cards, albeit with transaction limits. Contact your bank before travel to ensure that your card will work in China. At places in Luohu, cash or AliPay/WeChat are highly recommended. Some places charge an extra 10% for credit card purchases. The shop assistants will bring you to shops that have credit card processing machines. At shopping centers, remember to check with the cashiers to see if they accept credit cards before making purchases. There are few shopping centers that accept credit card with passport verification, though you may lose your discount on the purchase. Be careful when getting change from large notes as people may try to give you Hong Kong dollars instead of Yuan as the coins can look the same. The Hong Kong dollar is worth less than Yuan. Currency exchanges are available near some border crossings and in Futian metro station. For currency information, see the China page.

Shopping malls Lots of upscale malls in the city center, and some in the suburbs.

Rainbow (天虹 Tiānhóng). A chain of large, moderately high-end shopping centers. They have branches in many cities in China, but a lot more in Shenzhen than anywhere else, and indeed their headquarters is in Nanshan District. (updated Dec 2018)

Electronics Huaqiangbei is the absolute epicenter of the world's electronics industry. You will find everything you can imagine here.

Specialized stores Book City. A local chain of large bookstores. The flagship store, which claims to be the biggest bookshop in the world, is in the middle of Futian. Various ot

Eat

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles

Because Shenzhen is a migrant city, all of China's regional cuisines are represented here, with Guangdong, Hunan, and Sichuan food particularly common. Restaurants range from hole-in-the-wall establishments for homesick working class arrivals to opulent food palaces for businessmen and politicians entertaining clients. Spending ¥100 on a fantastic meal is no problem (though, you can spend ¥40 or less on a fantastic meal in Shenzhen). Treat yourself, and enjoy the wonderful food and variety of Shenzhen! Some outer neighborhoods in Shenzhen are known for a local specialty. Probably the most famous are oysters (生蚝 shēngháo) in Shajing in the far northwest of the city (Bao'an district)—they're said to be the "milk of the ocean floor", and the local ones are delicious and high in protein. International chains such as McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks are easy to find, especially in malls and Eat Streets (see below), and expensive foreign restaurants catering to expats are scattered throughout the city too. The biggest concentration by far is in Shekou. As well as casual restaurants and fine dining, Shenzhen is famous for its "Eat Streets". These are agglomerations of cheap and cheerful restaurants serving food from all over China. Despite the name, they're not limited to a single street; they may be spread over a small area of streets and alleys. They are not elaborate but they are friendly and fun and some of the food is to die for. Different Eat Streets often specialise in food from different parts of China. See district articles for individual listings.

Budget Mom-and-pop restaurants and hole-in-the-wall shops are plentiful, serving authentic, inexpensive (¥10–25), and filling meals. Often these are geared towards local workers, so you may be able to find them around the corner, in the back, or in some out of the way spot near popular attractions. You can also find them at the Eat Streets and other places that get a lot of foot traffic. At some, you can choose two or three dishes, cafeteria-style, to have with rice—selecting these is easy even if you don't speak any Chinese. Street food carts are here too, including authentic snacks as well as light meals. For breakfast, try the steamed buns, cheung fun, congee, egg pancakes, noodles, and soymilk sold from carts and hole-in-the-wall shops anywhere that gets a good amount of foot traffic.

Mid-range Thousands all over the city. Many popular, delicious options are in shopping malls, so if you're at a loss for where to eat, just pi

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles If you want to drink beer, Tsing Tao is a popular Chinese beer, or try Shenzhen's own Kingway Beer (金威啤酒), brewed in two locations in Shenzhen and available in any convenience store, bar, or restaurant. In stores such as a.best, Carrefour or Wal-Mart it will cost ¥3.50 per can, or ¥3.80 for a large bottle (you will need a bottle opener). 7-Eleven sells Kingway for ¥9, and local restaurants about ¥12-35. Bars typically charge slightly more than restaurants. Most of the nightlife is in Futian, Luohu, and Nanshan.

1 The Scripted Garden, Upper floors of a mixed-use building in Nanshan. 19:00-02:00. A speakeasy-style cocktail bar accessed through a disguised door. Known for its literary theme and inventive drinks that incorporate Chinese herbs and teas. A favorite for a sophisticated night out. ¥¥¥. (updated Oct 2025)

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Shenzhen's district articles Most tourists visit Shenzhen on a day trip from Hong Kong, but there are also plenty of options should you wish to spend the night here. Attractions in Shenzhen are spread out, so if you want to be able to see different parts of the city, look for lodging near a centrally located metro station (ideally in Futian or Luohu). If you're taking a longer trip and want to get out and explore the far-flung corners of the city, you may want to move around and find lodging in different districts—fortunately, there are plenty of hotels all over Shenzhen, so whatever you're interested in, you can surely find a place to sleep nearby. Since 2024, all licensed hotels in China outside restricted areas by law must accept foreigners. However, some budget hotels may turn you away because their staff are not familiar with the registration process, or simply do not want to go through the trouble. You can try your luck by showing front desk staff the official notice in Chinese. More expensive hotels shouldn't be a problem, and they're present in both central locations and out-of-the-way districts to serve business travellers. At Chinese New Year (usually February), prices usually double or substantially increase. Unlike other cities, however, the explosive development of hotels in Shenzhen means rooms, while more expensive, will generally still be available even at the busiest times.

Go next

The other cities of the Pearl River Delta are easy to get to from Shenzhen. All have maintained their traditional cultures and dialects to an extent that Shenzhen has not. Dongguan, Hong Kong, and Huizhou are the closest.

Guangzhou – the provincial capital, and third largest city in China. Like Shenzhen, it's a huge city of global importance, but it's not a boom town by any means; it's been a major international commerce hub for centuries. It lacks Shenzhen's frenetic energy and dynamism but has a lot more history and a more established culture and community. It's about an hour away by train or two hours by road. Hong Kong – "Asia's World City", the former British colony with a unique mix of cultures whose prosperity and international connections made Shenzhen what it is today. It's just across the border, with a travel time of less than an hour by train. If you want to claim a VAT refund after shopping in the mainland, only Wenjindu Control Point will process them. Alternatively, you can also claim the refund if you take the ferry from Shekou to Hong Kong Island. Macau – the former Portuguese colony on the other side of the Delta, famous as a gambling destination but also boasting interesting architecture and history. It can be reached by ferry from Shekou and Fuyong (Shenzhen Airport), or by helicopter from Shenzhen Airport. If you want to claim a VAT refund after visiting shopping in mainland China, only Shekou Ferry Terminal and Shenzhen Airport will process them. Dongguan – a major manufacturing center like Shenzhen, thirty minutes north by train or road. Huizhou – popular for its mountains and beaches, located forty minutes northeast by bus from the Luohu Station bus depot. Zhuhai – as Shenzhen is to Hong Kong, Zhuhai is to Macau: a border city growing like crazy due to favorable government policies and a location that's ideal for international trade. But Zhuhai is much smaller than Shenzhen and less densely populated. It can be reached by ferry from Shekou and Fuyong. Zhongshan – birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty, and first president of China. 45 min away by ferry from Fuyong. Foshan – birthplace of famous martial artists Wong Fei-hung and Ip Man, and Bruce Lee's ancestral home, about an hour away by high-speed train. If you want to head to Hong Kong or Macau, remember that they are Special Administrative Regions and therefore require you to pass through immigration and customs as if you were crossing an international border. Also remember going to Hong Kong or Macau counts as leaving China, whi